Anticipation of the hope...

"Do not love or cherish the world or the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh [craving for sensual gratification] and the lust of the eyes [greedy longings of the mind] and the pride of life [assurance in one's own resources or in the stability of earthly things]--these do not come from the Father but are from the world [itself]. And the world passes away and disappears, and with it the forbidden cravings (the passionate desires, the lust) of it; but he who does the will of God and carries out His purposes in his life abides (remains) forever." 1 John 2:15-17 AMP

The deceit of the enemy is in his ability to convince you that what you think is of God really is. That way, when the things of the flesh (sexual gratification) cause fleshly devastation…you will accuse the Father. When the things of the eyes (greedy mind) are displayed for what they truly are….you will accuse the Creator. And above all else, when the things of life (your own ability and resources) blow away like the dust in a windstorm, you will turn away from the One who is supposed to take care of you. Will you be able to stand on the day when the worldly deception of the enemy is cast aside and the reality of creation is once again exposed and know that you will still be here? Or will your world disintegrate like the flawed creation it lived in?

I wish that I could declare to the world that the way is clear and the burdens light, easily carried. I wish that I could promise upon the evidence of the Word that when we declare ourselves for Christ, the joy and happiness that abound is unlike anything the world will ever give us. I wish that I could declare that we all can find the peace of God in doing what He wants us to do……..

But I can't.

The world is decayed, broken, and immoral. So are we, even as we struggle and fight to live for the Father, our bodies and fleshly desires betray our heart and soul to which we've surrendered to God. The road to anticipation of redemption is harsh, long, bitter, and cruel.

It is also full of growth, peace, contentment and glory. Our Father gives us the hope and the strength to endure the trials ahead and the pain of the moment in anticipation of the renewal of ALL things.

Don't let the temporary things of this world take that contentment of the hope provided for our future.

I preach to myself on this and feel the sorrow of the lost of the temporary things that I've struggled for.....

hoped for...................

and lusted for..............

To live means to die.....and I have watched my old life systematically stripped away and thrown into the lake of fire...

I want to live for something more than this world can give....

and anticipate its arrival………………